New policy for transgender on anvil

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat Government plans to carry out a state-wide survey to find out the number and socio-economic status of the transgender community.
A senior official of the state social justice & empowerment department said that according to the new guidelines of the Supreme Court, every state will have to take steps for welfare of the transgender community. "Currently, we don't have any scheme or policy for this community.As the Supreme Court has directed that they should be considered as the third gender, the state administration plans to carry out a detailed study," the official said.
"The survey will focus on getting district-wise exact numbers of the community. The survey will also try to find out various aspects like their social, economic and other issues. Most of the community members have joined one or other group and have left their families because of apathy and are surviving on begging. Some are also victims of sexual abuse," said the official.
On the basis of the survey, the department will chalk out various welfare schemes. The main focus of the proposed scheme will be to bring them out of the begging and involve them in mainstream economic activity by giving vocational and educational trainings.